Reinforced parachute pack



March 8, 1949. s. w. SEVERANCE ETAL 2,463,913

REINFORCED PARACHUTE PACK Filed March 8, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS Spencer "(Severance BY Joseph Jfiaf/i'owski ITTORNEYS March 8, 1949. a s. w. SEVERANCE EZIAL REINFORCED PARACHUTE PACK 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 8, 1946 wa N Naw R wJZw m Wvf. .m 8U AR 1 4 wk 2 3 m S m.

Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFF-ICE REINFORCED PARACHUTE PACK Application March 8, 1946, Serial No. 6523934 19 Claims.

This invention relates to parachutes.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a back pack which is so constructed that it will possess the advantages of a soft pack without the disadvantages and will at the same time possess the advantages of a stiffened pack without the disadvantages.

It is another object of the invention to so construct the pack that its form will be maintained by stifiening means and yet it will present a cushion-like portion to the wearers back in contradistinction to the rigid character of the back engaging portion of packs currently in use.

A further object of the invention resides in the provision of a pack that possesses the above advantages and which, while it fits the curvatures of the body of the user, will permit him freedom of movement without interference.

Another object of the invention resides in so constructing the pack that, while there will be presented to the back of the user a cushion-like portion, the contents of the pack, particularly the canopy, will be maintained in its original packed condition and will be prevented from shifting toward the bottom of the pack.

More specifically it is an object of the invention to provide a pack which is provided with a stiffening frame which is included in the pack but removed from the back engaging portion and which is provided with pockets for the canopy to maintain them in their original packed condition and against shifting.

Even more specifically it is also an object of the invention not only to stiffen the pack at the portion that is to be located at the small of the back of the user but also at the shoulder and buttocks engaging portion without interfering with the freedom of movement and comfort of the user.

With these and other objects in view, which will appear as the description of the invention progresses, the invention includes the combination and arrangement of elements described in the specification illustrated in the drawings and recited in the claims.

As the invention is admirably adapted for incorporation in a back pack it will be so described.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a pack constructed in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an edge or side elevation of the pack;

Figure 3 is a longitudinal section on line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a transverse section on line 44 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section on line 5-5 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is an elevation of oneform of stilfening frame;

Figure 7 is an elevation of one modified form of stiffening frame;

Figure 8 is an elevation of another modified form of the stiffening frame; and

Figure 9 is a detail perspective view.

Referring now to the drawings, the cover of the pack includes a back or body engaging portion I, to which are attached top and bottom flaps 2 and 3 and side flaps i and 5 which latter overlie the end flaps and one of which overlaps the other. These side flaps 1i and 5 are secured together by the usual cone fasteners 6 and rip cord 8 and they are also provided with the usual opening elastic cords such as 9 and 10 which extend around the pack and are at their ends secured to the flaps as shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawing. These elastic cords are, however, associated with the pack in a special manner, as will be pointed out.

The back I of the pack is provided with transverse grooves, the number of which may vary but which are indicated in the drawing as two, H and 42, the provision of the grooves also resulting in partitions l3 and M to form pockets I5, l6 and l! for receipt of the canopy l8 and the susension lines is which lead to the risers 20 of the harness. These partitions may be of the desired distances apart. It has been found, howeverythat to locate the partition M at about or slightly below the waist line of the user and to locate the partition 53 at or about the shoulder blades results in a convenient, comfortable and advantageous articulation of the pack.

While of course the back I of the pack in the form described may be constructed by several methods, it has been found'advantageous to construct it by forming what shall be termed gussets 2 i, such as illustrated in Figure 9 of the drawings. Each gusset is U-shaped in cross section and is preferably but not necessarily curved inwardly as at 22 to conform to the shape of the back of the user, which inwardly curved portion results in extended portions 23 which lie at the side of the back of the user. The sections 24, 25 and 26 of the back portion of the pack cover are secured to the edges of the gussets as by stitching, for example, and this causes the back portion to take the transverse form of the back of the user, providing at the same time longitudinal pockets 2'! which intersect the pockets l6, l1 and i8, and are for the reception of the adjacent portions of the canopy and the bight portions of the folded suspension lines as shown in the drawings.

When the edges 22 of the gussets are made straight instead of curved, as illustrated, the back engaging portion of the pack will be flat instead of curved which, of course, will merge the longitudinal pockets with the transverse pockets to a greater extent than when the gusset edges are curved.

This pack is provided with a stiffening frame which, however, will permit -the pack to bend or articulate with the movements of the user.

In Figure 6 of the drawing this stiifening frame is shown as including side bars 28, a bottom bar 29, a curved bar 3|), all of which may be formed of one piece of resilient wire, and cross bars 3| and 32. These elements of the frame lie sub stantially in a plane and the cross bars 3| and 32 are secured to the side bars in any suitable manner.

When incorporated in the pack the top, bottom and side bars are located within the pack as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings while the cross bars 3! and 32 lie in the grooves H and I2 there being notches 33 provided at the ends of the gussets to accommodate the connection of the cross bars to the side bars of the frame.

It will be noted that the elastic cords 9 and ID are located in the grooves at the back of the pack and pass over the sides of the frame to their points of securement to the flaps and 5.

The form of the frame illustrated in Figure 7 of the drawings differs somewhat from that illustrated in Figure 6 and therefore causes the pack to act somewhat differently for in this figure the top bar 30' is hinged at 3 to the upper cross bar 3|, which will permit unrestricted articulation of the upper portion of the frame.

In the form of frame shown in Figure 8, the top bar 30" is hinged to the upper cross bar 3| as described in connection with the form shown in Figure 7 and additionally the bottom bar 29' is hinged to the bottom cross bar 32 as at 35, thus permitting free articulation of the bottom and top portions of the frame.

All forms of the frame may, of course, and preferably are, formed of resilient material such as wire.

In the various forms the sides of the frame are bowed inwardly as illustrated to insure the conformation of the sides of the pack to the hip line so that the sides of the pack will not project materially. Thus the possibility of the sides of the pack becoming engaged with extraneous objects, during use, will be greatly reduced.

Moreover, in the various forms the cross members 3i and 32 will be slightly bowed inwardly toward the back of the user so that when they are flexed by the bending of the back of the user they will, because of resiliency of the members, return to their initial position to preserve the form of the pack.

When the canopy and suspension lines are packed the flaps are thrown open, the elastic cords having been released, thus exposing the inside of the back of the pack to the packer.

The suspension lines are then laid back and forth across the pack transversely and within the pocket H, the bight portions of the lines being held by the usual keepers. The portions of the lines adjacent the skirt of the canopy are then carried across the partition l4 into the pocket It and the canopy then folded back and forth in the pockets I4 and I over the partition l3. In packing the canopy a greater portion is distributed in the longitudinal pockets 2'! and at the sides of the pack than at the intervenin portion of the pack, thus causing the pack to take the back conforming shape illustrated in Figure 4.

The flaps are then closed in the usual manner and secured by the cone fasteners and rip cord and in closing the flaps the canopy and suspension lines are of course compressed as is usual in packing.

Finally the elastic cords 9 and H) are drawn over the front of the pack and secured to the flaps in the usual manner, passing over the side bars of the frame and being located in the grooves H and [2.

Thus part of the packed canopy will be located in the pocket 15 and, passing over the partition I3 which is reenforced and maintained in form by the top cross bar of the frame in any of the forms of Figures 6, '7 or 8, the other portion will be located in the other transverse pocket [6 while the lines will be located in the pocket I! a portion, however, passing over the reenforced partition I4, and of course at the sides of the pack portions of the canopy in both of the pockets l5 and It will be located in the longitudinal pockets 21. The result of this packing in this form of pack will be that the canopy and, indeed, the suspension lines will be prevented from shifting either longitudinally or transversely of the pack.

An additional positioning action will take place for the elastic cords 9 and Ill are of course drawn tightly around the pack and they will coact with the cross bars of the frame and with the partitions to maintain the canopy and suspension lines in position because they resist the stretching action which is necessary if the portion of the canopy that is in one pocket is to shift to the other pocket. And they thus exert pressure on the portions of the canopy that overlie the partitions.

It will be noted that in this pack the portion that projects rearwardly toward the back of the user is entirely free of any portion of the stiffening frame for the frame is located substantially at the front of the pack to an extent at least equal to the depth of the groves H and I2. The result is that, while the pack possesses all of the virtues of a frame stiffened pack it also possesses all of the advantages of a soft pack and it possesses none of the disadvantages of either.

Moreover, because of the ability of the frame to flex and articulate the pack will adapt itself to the movements of the user without impeding his movements and it will return to its normal form.

When permitted to do so by the movements of the user this tendency to return to its normal form will be augmented by the resiliency that is lent to the pack by the compression of the canopy in packing.

It is of course to be understood that changes in many details of form and material may be made without departing from the scope or spirit of the claimed invention.

We claim:

1. A parachute pack including a back and front flaps, transverse partitions formed in the back and dividing the back into pockets, and means remote from the body contacting portion of the back for reenforcing said partitions.

2. A parachute pack including a back and front flaps, transverse partitions formed in the back and dividing the back into pockets, and means remote from the body contacting portion of the back for reenforcing said partitions, said means including resilient stiffening elements.

3. A parachute pack including a back and front flaps, transverse partitions formed in the back and dividing the back into pockets, and means remote from the body contacting portion of the back for reenforcing said partitions and the sides of said back.

4. A parachute pack including a back and. front flaps, transverse partitions formed in the back and dividing the back into pockets, and means remote from the body contacting portion of the back for reenforcing said partitions and the sides of said back, said means including resilient stiffening elements.

5. In a parachute pack having a back and front flaps, transverse relatively deep grooves in the back dividing the back into pockets, resilient stiffening members located at the base of said grooves remote from the body contacting portion of the back, and means attaching said resilient members to the sides of the back.

6. In a parachute pack having a back and a front, stiffening means for the pack located remote from the back of the pack toward the front of the pack, said stiffening means including a frame having a middle section and top and bottom sections located within the pack and cross bars between said sections on the outside of the pack but remote from the back contacting portion of the back.

7. In a parachute pack having a back and a front, stiffening means for the pack located remote from the back of the pack toward the front of the pack, said stiffening means including a resilient frame having a middle section and top and bottom sections located within the pack and cross bars between said sections on the outside of the pack but remote from the back contacting portion of the back.

8. In a parachute pack having a back and a front, stiffening means for the pack located remote from the back of the pack toward the front of the pack, said stiffening means including a frame having a middle section and top and bottom sections located within the pack and cross bars between said sections on the outside of the pack but remote from the back contacting portion of the back, one of said top and bottom sections being hinged to said middle section.

9. In a parachute pack having a back and a front, stiffening means for the pack located remote from the back of the pack toward the front of the pack, said stiffening means including a frame having a middle section and top and bottom sections located within the pack and cross bars between said sections on the outside of the pack but remote from the back contacting portion of the back, both of said top and bottom sections being hinged to said middle section.

10. In a parachute pack having a back and a front, stiffening means including side pieces and spaced cross pieces, means for securing the side pieces to the back of the pack adjacent the side edges thereof, and means for securing the cross pieces transversely of the pack and in spaced relation to the back thereof.

11. In a parachute pack having a back and a front, stiffening means for the pack located remote from the back of the pack toward the front of the pack, said means including cross bars extending transversely of the pack, and end sections hinged to the cross bars and secured to the side of the pack.

12. In a parachute pack having a back and a front, stiffening means for the pack located remote from the back of the pack toward the front of the pack, said means including cross bars extending transversely of the pack, and end sections hinged to the cross bars and secured to the side of the pack, said back having grooves in which said cross bars are located.

13. In a parachute pack having a back and a front, stiffening means for the pack located re mote from the back of the pack toward the front of the pack, said means including cross bars extending transversely of the pack, and end sections rigid with the crossbars and secured to the sides of the pack, said back having grooves in which said cross bars are located.

14. In a parachute pack having a back and a front, grooves extending transversely across the back of the pack, stiffening means for the pack located remote from the back of the pack toward the front of the pack and including side pieces located within the pack and cross bars located within the grooves remote from the back of the pack.

15. In a parachute pack having a back and a front comprised of flaps, said back of said pack having transverse grooves therein forming partitions Within the pack, stiffening means for the pack located remote from the back thereof and having side pieces located within the pack and cross pieces located Within said grooves, and flap-operating resilient cords attached to said flaps and extending within said grooves.

16. In a parachute pack having a back and a front, groves extending transversely across the back of the pack, stiffening means for the pack located remote from the back of the pack toward the front of the pack and including side pieces located within the pack and cross bars located within the grooves remote from the back of the pack, said stiffening means including a mid-section and end sections hinged to said mid-section.

17. In a parachute pack having a back and a front, grooves extending transversely across the back of the pack, stiffening means for the pack located remote from the back of the pack toward the front of the pack and including side pieces located within the pack and cross bars located within the grooves remote from the back of the pack, said stiffening means including a mid-section, an end section integral therewith, and an end section hinged thereto.

18. In a parachute pack, a front portion and a back portion, said front portion being releasable to permit the escape of a parachute canopy and said back portion being formed of articulated sections, and a stiffening member mounted within the pack and remote from the articulated back portion thereof.

19. In a parachute pack, a front portion and a back portion, said front portion being releasable to permit the escape of a parachute canopy and said back portion being formed of articulated sections, and a stiffening member mounted within the pack and remote from the articulated back portion thereof, said stiffening member being formed of resilient material.

SPENCER W. SEVERANCE. JOSEPH J. RUTKOWSKI.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,005,743 Hoffman June 25, 1935 2,052,503 Tricau Aug. 25, 1936 2,146,990 Rousselot Feb. 14, 1939 2,300,428 Manson Nov. 3, 1942 2,374,274 Eofi Apr. 24, 1945 

